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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 150 |
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(DISCLAIMER: This part, and all parts hereafter, are works in progress (WIPs) and have not been proofread or checked for plot inconsistencies. I've decided to present them "as is" for now, as there is a significant amount of unfinished material; yet this story has been on hiatus for a long while, I've forgotten certain details, and I have no plans to resume work on it any time soon. Please keep in mind while reading that details may change in the future. Should you spot an inconsistency, however, please feel free to point it out to me for possible correction.)
TREACHERY MOON WOLF REACHED out and grabbed at Little Wind's shoulder, determined to stop him from fleeing after Thomas. He ground his teeth, ready to slam him into the ground, only he never got that chance. For as soon as he touched him, the younger wabano let out a startled yell--and vanished without a trace. Moon Wolf lurched forward, nearly losing his balance. He pinwheeled his arms and gawked in surprise--Little Wind shouldn't have had any powers like that--before feeling the ground seem to give way under his feet. He had enough time to glance down and see his feet disappearing before he was plunging downwards, and he let out a yell as startled as Little Wind's, feeling the earth swallow him up. He cringed and shut his eyes, instinctively drawing his arms in toward his body as he expected the earth and stone to gouge at him from every side. Despite this, it didn't--all that he felt was one brief initial brush of soil against him, and then a constant tickling all over his body. He fought not to squirm, feeling something tugging on his ankles and coming to the slow realization that whatever was touching him was also propelling him downward. He really didn't want to open his eyes, but forced himself to do so, peering out of one slit to try to figure out what exactly was going on. All that he saw at first was dirt and rock and more dirt. He opened his eyes wider and blinked when he noticed little flickering yellow lights every so often, but they blurred by him so fast that he couldn't focus on what they were, and he didn't dare bend his neck to look around better. He took a breath and concentrated and thought that he heard chittering noises coming from all angles, but didn't get to focus on these better before he felt the pressure release his ankles and all of a sudden he was falling free. Moon Wolf yelled again and then slammed into the ground--or whatever it was--with a thud. Now he could definitely hear the chittering and clicking noises, and he sputtered as he jerked his head up, blinking dust from his eyes. He let out a third yell--this one purely a defense tactic--and quickly rolled over, throwing out a hand and forming fire around his fingers. The glare made him blink and he had to focus before spotting exactly what situation he was in. He seemed to have fallen out into some sort of subterranean cave. It wasn't very big, about the size of an average wigwam, and was formed partly of earth and partly of stone. He glanced around himself, surprised, seeing the hunks of rock jutting out here and there; there were absolutely no tree roots entangled with them, which gave him an idea of exactly how deep down he must be. The ground he'd landed on, however, was composed of loose soil, which explained why he hadn't hurt himself much, and he pushed himself up when he now saw the hundreds of tiny yellow eyes staring back at him from every part of the room. He blinked again, then let out a breath. Mizauwabeekum--? As if in response, one of the little stone people waved a hatchet and made a cheeping noise. The rest followed suit until their combined voices raised such a cacophony that Moon Wolf had to wince and cover his ears. "Enough!" he finally yelled, and they fell silent, blinking in surprise. He let out a sharp breath and lowered his hands, glaring at them each in turn. "What's going on?" he demanded. "Why did you bring me here?" His eyes grew, then he looked around again. "And where's the other?" The Mizauwabeekum began talking again, and he tried not to scowl when he realized that he couldn't understand them. So much for Charmian's necklace. As soon as he thought this, he began to feel anxious that perhaps something had befallen her, when he noticed the lead Mizauwabeekum pointing to its mouth and talking slower. He focused on it and after a while began to make out one word, then another, until he could understand its speech. He realized that it was just saying the same sentence over and over in the hopes that he would finally get it, and he nodded and waved at it impatiently, hoping to urge it on. "Why did you bring us down here?" he asked again. "Don't you know we're in the middle of something--?" Told to, the Mizauwabeekum said; when he frowned it tilted its head and pointed upwards. We were told to deliver you from difficulty! And what better escape than down into the earth--? "Told by who?" Moon Wolf asked, exasperated. By the One we cannot name, the stoneling replied, and before he could ask what that meant, it was waving at its companions. The other one panicked when we caught him and did not take it well! He's been moved into the next cave. Perhaps you may calm him before he destroys us! Moon Wolf's brow furrowed. The stoneling said this last comment in an oddly cheerful voice as it went hopping away into a tunnel which suddenly appeared at one side of the small cave. Moon Wolf let out an irritated sigh before turning and crawling after the little people on hands and knees. "What is the nature of this being who told you to grab us?" he asked, grimacing when he hit his head on a jutting rock. A manitou, the Mizauwabeekum replied. We do not speak his name as it is considered ill luck to draw down his wrath upon us by doing so. Plus--and it hopped over another rock--there is the other matter. "Other matter--?" Moon Wolf prompted, quickly growing exasperated with this conversation. Yes, the stoneling replied. Apparently there is a feud going on, and this manitou is not even meant to speak with us as it is! Feud...? Moon Wolf thought, frowning. He racked his brain trying to think of who would fit that description before Mishimakwa came to mind, and that just perplexed him even more. Why would the ghost manitou be helping them now, when he was serving Mishosha...? He looked up and saw that the tunnel widened into another cave, this one much smaller than the one they'd come from--in fact, it was only about twice as wide around as the tunnel, and it was in here that Little Wind was confined, screaming like mad. Moon Wolf couldn't believe that he hadn't even noticed the awful noises until now, and he winced when a particularly loud shriek pierced through his skull. He gasped and ducked when a dart of fire flew over his head and disappeared in a shower of tiny sparks against the tunnel roof. He caught a glance from the lead Mizauwabeekum, as if it were telling him, See what I mean?--then gritted his teeth and lunged into the cavelet. Because of its small size, Little Wind could only turn over and over like a dying snake, and he was clawing madly at the earth, his fingernails torn and ragged and dirt smacking him in the face. Every so often he tried hurling fire but most of it just disappeared harmlessly or glanced off of rocks and struck him instead, which would just make him scream all the louder and start spinning like a mole burrowing underground. "STOP ATTACKING ME!!" he shrieked. Moon Wolf managed to fit his front half in and grabbed hold of Little Wind's arms before he could spin around again, and the two of them collapsed, Little Wind still writhing and yelling in panic. "I won't be taken down this way!!" he shouted, eyes shut tight. "I'll go out fighting!! No underground manitous are going to take me into the pit of the earth--!!" "Snap out of it, idiot!" Moon Wolf hissed, and slapped him as best as he could. Little Wind abruptly halted in his motions and his eyes popped open, mouth going wide in surprise. He blinked a few times, a look of utter confusion flitting across his face. "M-Moon Wolf--?" he stammered, as if uncertain of his name. "They got you too--?" "Look around for a moment, fool!" Moon Wolf snapped. "They aren't manitous! If you would use your eyes and head for a moment you'd realize that!" Little Wind's brow furrowed, then he began peering around himself, now seeing the Mizauwabeekum peering at them from all angles. He shuddered and shrank back as much as he could. "What--what are they then--?" he cried, squealing when one of them chittered. Moon Wolf ground his teeth again. "Mizauwabeekum. Little stone people! They never hurt humans, you idiot." "I've never seen little stone people before!" Little Wind protested, shrinking away from a curious one. "That's because you've never bothered looking for any!" Moon Wolf pulled himself back, as they had been practically face to face, staring at each other upside-down. Little Wind let out a breath as he withdrew into the narrower section of tunnel. "Now turn over and come back out! And the next time you make such a noise I'll knock your head into the wall!" Little Wind bit his lip and his eyes glimmered, but he obeyed, carefully pushing himself over and following Moon Wolf back out into the tunnel. Moon Wolf had to go backwards so they faced each other the entire time, but the younger wabano didn't even lift his stare from the ground. Moon Wolf fought down his irritation and crawled out into the bigger cave, watching as Little Wind emerged with a small sigh. An army of Mizawabeekum trailed out after him. "I've never seen little stonelings before," he insisted again. "Grandfather Mishosha never taught me to look for them." "Seeing as you're on your own now," Moon Wolf said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the peevishness out of his voice, "perhaps you'd best start learning on your own." He turned to look at the lead Mizauwabeekum as it came toward him, shaking its tomahawk. "Are we to stay down here or head back up? We left people behind. This feud you mentioned involves us." The Nameless One actually told us that he was called to action on behalf of another, the Mizauwabeekum replied, earning a perplexed look. I do not know this other's name--but it must be a great manitou indeed to compel the Nameless One's action! The message was relayed to us to deliver you safely from immediate harm--yet this is all we are able to do. "What of the others we left behind?" If they attempt to follow, they will be brought below as you were. If they head through the woods, the Pukwudjininees will assist them instead. We were told to help you westward as far as we can, but unfortunately the distance is not far, as most of our tunnels end soon. "Westward...?" Little Wind echoed, brow furrowing. Moon Wolf resisted the urge to snap at him when he moved forward a bit, staring at the stoneling. "But...who would give such an order?" "Who do you think?" Moon Wolf retorted, making him jump a little. He turned and looked up at the hole leading into the cave. "Charmian is the only one who would come up with such a plan," he murmured, half to himself, as he studied it. "Which means she's still out there somewhere, communicating with Mishimakwa somehow." "But Grandfather Mishosha is commanding--" Little Wind started to say, then cut himself off. Moon Wolf turned his head to look at him and saw the strange look on his face; he frowned and turned back around. Little Wind seemed almost dazed, and didn't even notice the scowl Moon Wolf got. "You were saying--?" he prompted. Little Wind blinked, then lowered his head a little. "Um...Grandfather Mishosha sometimes had trouble...with certain manitous. Those who are particularly powerful. I hear--would hear--him raging about this some nights when I was supposed to be asleep. He plans to command even the Winds and the sky someday--once he himself is finally a manitou." "Something which thankfully won't happen." Little Wind's mouth fell open but all that Moon Wolf did was stare up into the hole. "How do we get back out of here?" he asked the nearest Mizauwabeekum, which tilted its head. "As welcoming as these tunnels are, we should stick together. We need to get back to the others." Your best luck would be to follow us in the direction of the woods, then, the Mizauwabeekum replied, seeing as you don't wish to stay! It chittered and pointed to Moon Wolf's right. The nearest trees are that way. "They aren't all there," Little Wind said, and now they all looked at him. He chewed on his lip a little, fingers fiddling. Moon Wolf's face started to lapse into a scowl again. "What do you mean they aren't all there...?" he growled, his fingers digging into the loose soil. "J-just what I said," Little Wind quavered, then he sat up straighter as if to challenge him. "I can feel people sometimes--when they're not near me. It's how I could tell whenever Grandfather Mishosha was getting close, that is, if he would let me. Some people mask themselves and I can't tell where they are. But most people aren't any good at it--like those in your company! Most of them are in the woods but not all of them." He senses people...? Moon Wolf thought, perplexed; that was the same power Charmian had. Was that why she'd insisted on bringing him along...? "Who's missing, then?" he demanded, and Little Wind flinched before answering. "The Wendigo one--the one who went running off! I assume that's the way you all planned it, isn't it--?" "He got away?" Moon Wolf crawled closer to him, suddenly interested now. Little Wind nodded, a bit unnerved by his interest. "Y-yes, I think so...I sense him running northwestward. Most of the others are in the woods." He paused, biting his lip again. "I think I feel three others as well...not very far from here. Heading in our direction." Three? That must be Winter Born and Elk and the red man, Moon Wolf thought. "What of Charmian?" he asked. "Where is she? Is she all right?" Little Wind lowered his head again. "I can't feel her anywhere," he admitted. "Either she's too far away or something is hiding her." "What would be hiding her--?" Moon Wolf snapped, but Little Wind didn't get to answer as the lead Mizauwabeekum began squeaking and waving its arm. We've worked on the tunnel a bit to try to facilitate your way toward the woods. You can climb through, or we can assist you! Moon Wolf opened his mouth to turn down their offer, then bit his tongue and grimaced. "We'd prefer assistance," he made himself say, ignoring Little Wind's gape. As much as he hated the multitude of little hands upon him, the stonelings' assistance would move them along much faster, and there wasn't exactly much time to lose. "You," he said to Little Wind, who tensed in surprise, "keep yourself open, and tell them which direction to head in to best reach the others quickly! You may as well make yourself of use for a change." Little Wind blushed but meekly nodded. "All...all right. I'll try to." Moon Wolf stared at him for a brief moment, then nodded at the Mizauwabeekum. It let out a whistle and the army of them went tramping up the wall and into the tunnel entrance overhead. Moon Wolf made a face but got carefully to his feet and reached his arms up. The ceiling was just low enough that if he jumped, his hands would go into the hole, even though there were no handholds in sight--but he quickly realized that that didn't matter, for as soon as he did this, he felt his hands grasped hold of, and then was yanked up into the tunnel, his breath leaving him in a whoosh. He heard Little Wind let out a startled yell and ground his teeth in irritation; then he just let out a weary sigh when the younger wabano's screaming didn't let up as they were propelled through the tunnel. Perhaps if he were that age, and hadn't ever seen Mizauwabeekum, he would have screamed too, though he doubted it. Instead of continuing straight upward, Moon Wolf felt the course alter itself and opened his eyes to see the upward tunnel disappear beyond his feet. Now that his eyes were open again he once more saw the scores of tiny yellow dots flickering by like zooming fireflies, and the sight and feeling were such that he had to close his eyes again to avoid getting ill. Little Wind had stopped screaming by now, though he still whimpered. Moon Wolf's teeth were starting to hurt from how hard he was gritting them, and he had to make himself take a breath and let it out. "Little Wind!" he called, also having to force himself not to address him as "Idiot." Little Wind's whimpering died down and he cocked his head back at an angle to look ahead at Moon Wolf upside-down. "Which way? Your senses, remember?" Moon Wolf prompted when he got nothing but a confused look in response. "O-oh," Little Wind stammered, and shut his eyes tight again. "Umm...we're going the right way...only..." He gnawed on his lip for a moment. "Only we need to head a bit more north--northeast." He pointed at the tunnel wall, eyes still shut. "That way." Moon Wolf frowned, but didn't argue when the Mizauwabeekum again altered their course, carrying them seamlessly along into an alternate tunnel. He was awed by how well they worked in relay, almost like a colony of ants transporting their young through the soil. They talked the entire time that they worked but Moon Wolf didn't really feel like following the nonsense snippets of conversation anymore, and he sighed to himself and shut his eyes, trying to think. Charmian must have somehow convinced Mishimakwa to help us...but at what cost? And why can't she be sensed if she's nearby? Is it something to do with Mishosha, or with that Flint...? The squeaking and chittering of the Mizauwabeekum began to grow louder, and he opened his eyes to see the leader lying flat upon his chest. It chirped and pointed. Nearby now! We stay underground to maintain our safety--but you both will be aboveground, in the woods, as quickly as you were carried down! I would prefer a bit more slowly, Moon Wolf thought, but managed a slight nod; at least they were getting a warning this time. "Take us closest to where the main group is," he ordered, and they began speeding along a bit more quickly. He managed a glance at Little Wind to see the tense way in which the younger wabano was looking around at the walls and ahead of himself, but didn't bother speaking to him. Their progress at last began to slow somewhat, and when he blinked he saw dim daylight somewhere above. Another tunnel was branching upward from here. He didn't know how they managed it, but the Mizauwabeekum passed him into the new tunnel without him having to bend in any uncomfortable fashion, and before he knew it he was once more zooming upwards. The dim daylight resolved itself into a covering of snow far overhead, moving ever closer; Moon Wolf carefully worked his arms past his head until they were stretched out straight over him, and he braced himself when he felt the little hands abruptly let go of his arms, his shoulders, his sides, until only his feet were being held onto, and then the little stone people gave him a final push and he gritted his teeth and with eyes shut burst out of the snow. He felt the cold wetness go flying every which way, some plopping back in his face and making him sputter. He felt himself begin sliding back into the tunnel and gasped as he began clawing at the ground around him, at first grabbing only more handfuls of snow. The Mizauwabeekum chattered beneath him and he struggled to keep himself from plunging back down and kicking Little Wind in the head. As he frantically clawed for a grip, he felt somebody grasp onto his hand, and blindly grasped it in return, allowing its owner to pull him up and out. Snow fell away from him as he was dragged out of the tunnel and collapsed into a bank of it, gasping and spitting and starting to shake from the cold; even far underground it hadn't seemed quite so chilly. He heard Little Wind's gasp as he was helped out of the tunnel as well, and let out a breath, still panting heavily and trying to recover himself. After all that, he wasn't sure how he would get used to living in a cave again. From somewhere behind him he heard Francois say, "Old man." Moon Wolf's eyes shot open. What did he just call me--? He put a hand out and started to push himself over. "Old man" was a customary address for medicine men...but the trapper had never once referred to him in that way. Come to think of it, no one on the entire Island had ever called him that. He tensed as soon as he saw Little Wind lying in the snow on the other side of the tunnel, and the look on the younger wabano's face nearly made him start. "Sorry," Little Wind whispered, before lowering his eyes. Moon Wolf tensed again, even before another voice came from somewhere above him. "Well, wabano," it said, and he looked upward to see Mishosha smirking down at him, "happy to see me again?" |